Canadians respond to Ebola outbreak in Liberia with rapid generosity

Supplies to help Liberian health workers respond to the Ebola outbreak are loaded on a truck. Canadians provided funds to send more equipment overseas through effect:hope (The Leprosy Mission Canada). Photo courtesy of MAP International. (CNW Group/effect:hope (The Leprosy Mission Canada))

Supplies to help Liberian health workers respond to the Ebola outbreak are loaded on a truck. Canadians provided funds to send more equipment overseas through effect:hope (The Leprosy Mission Canada). Photo courtesy of MAP International. (CNW Group/effect:hope (The Leprosy Mission Canada))

Liberian health worker wears personal protective equipment. More equipment will be sent through the generosity of Canadians, through effect:hope (The Leprosy Mission Canada). Photo courtesy of MAP International. (CNW Group/effect:hope (The Leprosy Mission Canada))

effect:hope (The Leprosy Mission Canada) raises $40,000

MARKHAM, ON, April 28, 2014 /CNW/ - Canadians responded generously to
provide much-needed medical supplies and support for the outbreak of
the deadly Ebola virus in Liberia. Hundreds of people across the
country responded to an urgent appeal to help effect:hope (The Leprosy
Mission Canada) and Medical Assistance Programs (MAP) International
transport supplies and additional staff to the West African nation.

In four days effect:hope donors contributed over $40,000 to help MAP
International deploy over 50 trained Ebola response and case isolation
health workers, and ship and distribute 4,800 Personal Protective
Equipment kits to field health workers in the affected region. These
funds augment the federal government contribution of $1,285,000, and
are in response to Health Minister Rona Ambrose's call for wider
support for the outbreak.

effect:hope already works with MAP International in three Ebola-affected
counties in Liberia to reduce the burden of leprosy and Buruli ulcer,
two Neglected Tropical Diseases that cause significant health,
socio-economic problems. The emergency relief funds will help to
contain the spread of Ebola, and reduce mortality because of it. The
funds will also protect the organization's partner health workers who
are responding to the crisis.

"Our health workers in Liberia, who typically help those with leprosy
and Buruli ulcer, are now risking their own lives to intervene in the
Ebola outbreak," said Executive Director Peter Derrick, "I am thrilled
by the swift flood of support from Canadians who want to stop this
grave health threat." Regular effect:hope programs have stopped due to
the outbreak.

effect:hope has been working with the Ministry of Health in Liberia for
more than two years. With local partner MAP International, they were
among the first to respond to the emergency created by the Ebola virus.

"The Ebola virus is terrifying. We want to control it soon, so that no
one else loses their life," explained Zeela Zaizay, MAP International
Liberia Country Director, "…but health workers are vulnerable to the
virus without appropriate protection. We are striving to protect the
health workers who are willing to take the risk, or who are already in
harm's way. It was difficult to get 12 of 47 workers to go to an
Isolation Centre in Foyah. Those who are volunteering must not die. We
are so glad for Canadian support; this will help a great deal."

effect:hope will continue to monitor the outbreak, and with
compassionate Canadians, assist as necessary.

Working in 13 countries, effect:hope (The Leprosy Mission Canada), a Canadian Christian development organization, aims to create lasting,
positive change among people living with the causes and consequences of
leprosy and conditions related to leprosy. For more information visit www.effecthope.org.

SOURCE effect:hope (The Leprosy Mission Canada)

Image with caption: "Supplies to help Liberian health workers respond to the Ebola outbreak are loaded on a truck. Canadians provided funds to send more equipment overseas through effect:hope (The Leprosy Mission Canada). Photo courtesy of MAP International. (CNW Group/effect:hope (The Leprosy Mission Canada))". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20140428_C5495_PHOTO_EN_39704.jpg

Image with caption: "Liberian health worker wears personal protective equipment. More equipment will be sent through the generosity of Canadians, through effect:hope (The Leprosy Mission Canada). Photo courtesy of MAP International. (CNW Group/effect:hope (The Leprosy Mission Canada))". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20140428_C5495_PHOTO_EN_39703.jpg

Liberian health worker wears personal protective equipment. More equipment will be sent through the generosity of Canadians, through effect:hope (The Leprosy Mission Canada). Photo courtesy of MAP International. (CNW Group/effect:hope (The Leprosy Mission Canada))